Stress
Stress can be sneaky and destructive. A large number of times we don’t even realize we are stressed until we look behind us and see the trail of destruction in our wake. Acupuncture has been scientifically proven to help the way your brain responds to stress. Wildflower Acupuncture can help you recognize when you are stressed and help you change the way you respond to it by bringing balance back to your life.
Physical symptoms of stress include:
- Low energy
- Headaches
- Upset stomach, including diarrhoea, constipation and nausea
- Aches, pains, and tense muscles
- Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
- Insomnia
- Frequent colds and infections
- Loss of sexual desire and/or ability
- Nervousness and shaking, ringing in the ear
- Cold or sweaty hands and feet
- Excess sweating
- Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
- Clenched jaw and grinding teeth
- Weight gain/loss
Emotional symptoms of stress include:
- Becoming easily agitated, frustrated and moody
- Feeling overwhelmed, like you are losing control or need to take control
- Having difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind
- Feeling bad about yourself (low self-esteem), lonely, worthless and depressed
- Avoiding others
- Anxiety
- Depression
Benefits of Acupuncture for stress:
- Acupuncture releases endorphins and activates natural pain killers
- Strengthens the immune system
- Acts on areas of the brain known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress as well as promotes relaxation and deactivation of the “analytical brain, which is responsible for anxiety and worry
- Improves stress induced memory impairment and an increasing AchE reactivity in the hippocampus
- Reduces serum levels of corticosterone and the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells
- Regulates levels of neurotransmitters and hormones such as serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA, neuropeptide Y and ACTH, which alternatively helps combat negative affective states
- Stimulates production of endogenous opioids that affect the autonomic nervous system
- Reverses pathological changes in levels of inflammatory cytokines that are associated with stress reactions
- Reduces inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors
- Reverses stress-induced changes in behaviour and biochemistry